saki is excited to present a free, all-ages in-store by gothic Americana duo The Handsome Family and Chicago baritone warbler Daniel Knox.

The Handsome Family is a songwriting collaboration between Brett (music) and Rennie Sparks (words). In anticipation of their show at Mayne Stage on Friday, September 14th (w/ Jon Langford), The Handsome Family will be playing a separate and unique set at saki. As experts of folk history, the husband & wife duo will share a selection of their favorite tragic ballads from the last four centuries at the saki in-store. The Handsome Family have a devoted following of intelligent and active fans. Many notable fans often cover their songs live, including: Andrew Bird, Jeff Tweedy, Cerys Matthews, and Kelly Hogan, along with an unknown singer on American Idol.

Daniel Knox has amassed a dark and diverse repertoire, addictive as much for its narrative and lyrical deftness as for its musical lure. A Harold Arlen for the darker set, he bellows tales of disillusionment, obsession, and criminal intent with as much sarcasm as sincerity. Knox is a rogue at the piano, crooning, sneering, and shouting so that his cast of characters may speak. In January of 2007, Knox accompanied filmmaker David Lynch on organ for the Chicago premier of Inland Empire at the historic Music Box Theater.

Please join us at saki on Thursday, September 13th at 6:30pm for a free set of tragic folk ballads from the Handsome Family and a set from Daniel Knox.

"Words that in their everyday surrealism have no parallel in contemporary writing...Music that mines the deep veins of fatalism in the Appalachian voice." - Greil Marcus on The Handsome Family

“As songwriters it’s the eerie, ancestral voice of ‘Anonymous’ they ultimately resemble the most” - Chicago Reader (Monica Kendrick) on The Handsome Family

“Do yourself a favor and listen to Daniel Knox’s ‘Ghostsong’ at least 398 times in a row. Never has something so mean been so beautiful.” - The Believer Magazine (Robyn O’Neil)

AD Presents: Father John Misty + The Orwells

saki and Aquarium Drunkard are excited to present a free, all-ages in-store with Father John Misty and The Orwells on Monday, October 29th at 6pm.

Father John Misty is the current moniker of Joshua Tillman, formerly J. Tillman and member of Fleet Foxes. His album Fear Fun was released by SubPop records this past May. Described as “positively kaleidoscopic” by Pitchfork, Fear Fun is a clear but complex combination of recent memories – intricate, lush compositions that back his drug-fueled anarchy and depravity. Quite a combination.

The Orwells are gaining national attention for their self-proclaimed “flower punk” summer release Remember When. One of our favorite releases last summer, the Orwells completely pull off their extremely catchy debut tracks live as well. While their music is steeped in the Stooges & Replacements, it’s clear that these high schoolers came of age in the late ‘00s, influenced by rising names and styles by the likes of the Black Lips, Harlem, & Ty Segall.

Both Father John Misty and The Orwells have garnered attention from music blog Aquarium Drunkard. In fact, AD’s label imprint Autumn Tone Records released two J. Tillman records (Father John Misty’s earlier moniker) and The Orwell’s summer release Remember When.

The shows will be recorded as Epitonic saki Sessions and become available for free download on Epitonic.com.

The saki in-store is in anticipation of Father John Misty’s show at Lincoln Hall on Tuesday, October 30 with La Sera and Jeffertiti’s Nile.